Edward R. Murrow (April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) was a famous American journalist and revered by his successors for being a courageous, honest reporter.

He is best remembered for his journalistic bravery — his groundbreaking reports about Nazi Germany and later on World War II — as well as his 1954 TV program that led to the political downfall of a demagogue, Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is named in his honor at his alma mater, Washington State University.

More than likely he would be angered by recent government-censorship developments, and would be applauding activities of a noted journalism organization. Why?

As Americans trusted Mr. Murrow to do the right thing in journalism, one of the world’s most-trusted and largest news reporting services warned about censorship imposed by the Obama Administration. It was the organization’s second warning in 2014.

Ignoring the public’s right to know is a serious accusation, especially from the Associated Press (AP).

Edward R. Murrow

AP – www.ap.org – is legendary for its high standards in news reporting. (As a former broadcast journalist and having read AP copy on-air or edited it, I’m very familiar with its credibility.)

Founded in 1846, AP has been a reliable source of news for countless major and minor stories. It’s a cooperative funded by American broadcast and newspaper companies.

Based in New York, it has operations in 280+ global locales. It has been honored with 51 Pulitzer Prizes.

So it was eye-opening when AP cited the Obama Administration for its failures in transparency.

She quoted AP Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee, who addressed a meeting of American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers.

For years, we know Mr. Obama has reneged on his pre-election vow to be transparent. But now, not only the federal government fails to provide information, state and local governments are following his example.

Her eight criticisms:

There’s a blackout on the war on Islamist terrorists. In previous wars, reporters were even embedded with the troops.

The administration won’t let journalists observe meetings with foreign leaders. Instead, the White House hands out pictures taken by government photographers.

With the 9/11 trial of the Guantanamo detainees approaching, there isn’t any access to court filings – even non-classified documents.

Formerly, during the Bush Administration, Guantanamo information was readily made available. Now, however, nothing is revealed about “the number of prisoners on hunger strikes or the number of assaults on guards.”

“Day-to-day intimidation of sources is chilling.” Government officials say they’re ordered to censor anything that’s “controversial or that makes the administration look bad.”

Federal agencies aren’t complying with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Journalists request information as they’re legally entitled to do, but the government is nonresponsive.

Worse, the Obama Administration is using the FOIA to spy on “what news organizations are pursuing” and “Requests are now routinely forwarded to political appointees. At the agency that oversees the new health care law, for example, political appointees now handle the FOIA requests.”

The Obama Administration “is trying to control the information that state and local officials can give out.” Ms. White cited clandestine behavior on cellphone spying.

She quoted Kathleen Carroll, a senior vice president and executive editor of The Associated Press, who lobbied journalists to fight censorship. It was at a gathering in New York of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

To summarize, Ms. Carroll’s three salient points:

Make certain “everyone in your newsroom understands the open meetings and records laws…”

Journalists should stand together to fight censorship.

Tell journalism schools to fully inform students of their rights to access after they graduate.

Amen.

Memo to journalists: Now how about calling for accountability in the Obama Administration on other scandals, such as the IRS treatment of the president’s political opponents and the Benghazi coverup.

From the Coach’s Corner, more on Mr. Obama’s lack of transparency:

Obama’s Broken Promise for Transparent Government – Study — New questions emerge about President Obama’s promise for open government — in the aftermath of the creepy behavior of Obama Administration officials in the IRS scandal, the snooping on journalists, and the changing stories about their roles in denying aid to four Americans who were killed at Benghazi.

How Will Journalists Act After Obama’s Supreme Slap at the 1st Amendment? — Updated Feb. 26, 2014 A controversial study of the news media by the Federal Communications Commission has been put on hold. Many Republican lawmakers, media groups — and this business portal — complained that the study was a disingenuous attempt to influence journalists in their news coverage.

“Censorship is advertising paid by the government.”

-Federico Fellini

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Author Terry Corbell has written innumerable online business-enhancement articles, and is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services. For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule him as a speaker, consultant or author, please contact Terry.

When Google quietly removed its anti-censorship warning in December 2012, it was another victory for China. Google deleted the warning for Internet users in China who were searching for politically sensitive information.

But no matter. It had become well known that Chinese officials disconnect users who search using politically sensitive phrases. But Google had made valiant efforts to deal with the Internet tyranny.

Google has been paying attention to a free-enterprise business compass. Earlier, the search engine threatened to extract itself from China over censorship and cybercrime issues. Because it’s a huge marketplace, Google and other companies had been tolerant of such problems.

Actually, tolerating an uncontrollable, hostile environment violates principles in best-practices management. So it’s a tardy development, but let’s roll out the welcome mat.

After President Nixon bridged the diplomatic gap between the U.S. and China in 1972, companies and nations have tolerated and perhaps even encouraged China’s bad behavior.

This includes censorship, violation of human rights, intellectual-proprietary thefts, currency manipulation for cheap exports, other discriminatory-protectionism policies, and Communist Party activities.

In 2006, I wrote that I was disappointed by the decisions of Internet companies that decided to acquiesce to China’s behavior and environment.

It’s one thing to accept it, but another to condone it and build a business model around it.

My reasons:

– Values matter

– The free-enterprise system works best

– Economic and political freedoms are connected – lose one and you lose the other

Business Leadership

To be a business leader, it’s important to know who you are…what your roots are…plan strategically…and always try to do the right thing – even if your decisions and actions are unpopular.

Actually, this principle applies to all facets of life and even sports. And I love writing sports metaphors for business topics.

For example, many Seattle Seahawks’ fans were delighted with the selection of Pete Carroll as coach, especially, after his initial press conference upon being hired away from the University of Southern California. That was when he explained why he was previously unsuccessful in the NFL. By any standard, he was dominant in his tenure at USC.

Before coaching at USC, his pro football teams – the New York Jets and New England Patriots – were mediocre. It was refreshing when he admitted in Seattle that he didn’t know himself or who he was in his earlier pro jobs.

In referring to his new team he made this comment: “When we start this thing off, they’re going to know where I’m coming from, because I know where I’m coming from.” Now he coaches a dominant team.

One of his Seattle predecessors, Mike Holmgren, had success as coach of the Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. But he was unsuccessful his first four years in Seattle because he was both coach and general manager. It was only after the management responsibilities were taken from him that he coached the team to the Super Bowl in 2005.

During that time, I speculated that his lack of success stemmed from the Peter Principle. In essence, people rise to their level of incompetence.

Few people are equipped to handle both responsibilities. Even if they have all the technical and management skills, their attention to detail, energy and efficiency will plummet.

So possibly, the Google brain trust needed to learn about themselves and the downsides from conducting business while abandoning their values.

Socrates was right

Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is known for his aphorism: “Know thyself.” And it’s right out of my human resources training materials.

For individuals, a complete self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses is the key to success. Once an employee knows who she or he is, then it’s possible to effectively set goals. Then, execution comes into play.

For success in business, an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats will pave the way for writing a productive strategic plan and a business plan. And again, it’s important to execute.

Google’s courage will help other businesses to fully realize about the problems associated with foregoing their values in order to do business in China. Certainly, it will be a catalyst for discussion.

Google believes its security was violated by hackers based in China. But there is probably another motivation. The search giant has relatively little to lose unlike companies such as General Motors.

Again, at least Google is at least making effort in upholding corporate values, but General Motors isn’t. Buick is huge in China but it’s at the detriment of the U.S.

“U.S. carmakers are compelled to form joint ventures and share knowhow with Chinese partners to produce and sell in the world’s second-largest economy,” he adds.

“These and similar restrictions steal millions of American jobs in autos and supporting industries like electronics, metals and plastics and computer software,” he explains. “Eliminating the resulting $450 billion trade deficit on oil and manufactured products would create more than 4 million new jobs directly, and at least another 2.5 million as those additional workers’ spending spread through the economy.”

“The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen.”

-Tommy Smothers

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Author Terry Corbell has written innumerable online business-enhancement articles, and is a business-performance consultant and profit professional.Click here to see his management services. For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule him as a speaker, consultant or author, pleasecontact Terry.